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RESOURCES
Qi: Journal
of Traditional Eastern Health
Colorful magazine
History
of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Karolinska Institutet (Sweden) site with many unusual links
Symbiosis:
Journal of Ecologically Sustainable Medicine
Should healing ourselves trash the planet or help heal the environment
too?
National
Center for Homeopathy
What is homeopathy and other topics
Layman's
Guide to Acupuncture
Wisconsin-based Midwest College's illustrated primer
Chinese physicians have studying acupuncture for thousands of years. Most
of the studies conducted in the People’s Republic of China are not
considered true scientific experiments because they do not include a control
group (a control group is a portion of the participants in the experiment
who do not receive acupuncture). It is unfortunate that these studies
are not considered valid by Western biomedical standards.
The studies in China are not controlled because the Chinese people already know that acupuncture works. They feel no need to prove it. Rather, many of their studies are aimed at finding out what is the best combination of therapies – for example, what works better for hot flashes: acupuncture and herbs or acupuncture and pharmaceutical medications?
Fortunately for skeptics, studies on acupuncture are
published in many peer-reviewed biomedical journals such as JAMA and the
British Medical Journal. Quite a few of these studies were conducted outside
of the U.S., where funding can be found for investigating therapies regardless
of whether they involve a drug patented by a pharmaceutical company that
finances the research.
Pain
Patients with chronic headache randomized to acupuncture used 15% less
medication, made 25% fewer visits to general practitioners, and took 15%
fewer days off sick. The authors conclude that acupuncture leads to persisting,
clinically relevant benefits for primary care patients with chronic headache,
particularly migraine.
"Acupuncture for chronic headache
in primary care: large, pragmatic, randomised trial," by A.J. Vickers,
et al. in British Medical Journal. 328(7442):744, 2004 March 27.
In this pragmatic, open trial, 241 patients with persistent non-specific
low back pain were randomly assigned to an acupuncture group or a control
group, the latter receiving standard care. At 12 months the patients in
the acupuncture group reported less pain, and at 24 months there was a
statistically significant difference in favor of the acupuncture group.
“Randomised controlled trial of a short
course of traditional acupuncture compared with usual care for persistent
non-specific low back pain,” by K-J Thomas et al. in British Medical
Journal. 333(7569): 623, 23
September 2006.
In this randomized controlled study, patients
with
chronic neck and shoulder pain and related headache were assigned to an
acupuncture group or a placebo-point group. Those in the acupuncture group
reported a reduction of pain immediately after the course of treatments
and 6 month afterwards that was statistically significant in relation
to the control group. This effect lasted 3 years.
“Effect of acupuncture treatment on
chronic neck and shoulder pain in sedentary female workers: a 6-month
and 3-year follow-up study,” by D. He et al. in Pain. 109(3): 299-307,
June 2004.
In this trial, 177 patients with chronic neck pain
were randomly allocated to five treatments over three weeks of acupuncture,
massage, or “sham” laser acupuncture. One week after five
treatments, the reduction in pain related to motion was significantly
greater in the acupuncture group compared with the massage group and slightly
greater in the “sham” laser acupuncture group though not significantly
so. The acupuncture group had the best results in secondary
outcome measures.
“Randomised trial
of acupuncture compared with conventional massage and ‘sham’
laser acupuncture for treatment of chronic neck pain,” by D. Irnich,
et al. in British Medical Journal. 322(7302): 1574-8, 30 June
2001.
Acupuncture proves to be an important supplement of
conservative orthopedic treatment in the management of chronic lower back
pain.
"Does Acupuncture Improve the Orthopedic
Management of Chronic Low Back Pain – a Randomized, Blinded, Controlled
Trial with 3 Months Follow Up," by A.F. Molsberger et al. in Pain.
99(3):579-87, October 2002.
Arthritis
Patients
receiving real acupuncture had greater improvements in pain and function
than those receiving either sham acupuncture with fake needles or arthritis
education in this larger-scale (570 patients) 26-week study. The principal
investigator said, “Our study shows that acupuncture can be a safe
and effective complementary therapy for people with osteoarthritis of
the knee. Before taking part in our study, many of the patients were taking
anti-inflammatory medicine but they still experienced a lot of pain. When
we added acupuncture to their treatment, the majority reported significant
improvement.” More on this
study.
“Effectiveness of Acupuncture as Adjunctive
Therapy in Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A Randomized, Controlled Trial,”
by B.M. Berman et al. in Annals of Internal Medicine 141:901-910, 21 December
2004.
Depression, Anxiety, and Withdrawal
Alcoholics who took carbamazepine medication and received acupuncture
had better outcome results and fewer withdrawal symptoms that those who
took only carbamazepine.
"Acupuncture in the Treatment
of Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms: A Randomized, Placebo-controlled Inpatient
Study," by M. Karst et al. in Addiction Biology. 7(4):415-9, 2002
October.
Acupuncture produces results that are comparable to other empirically
validated treatments for depression in terms of rates of response and
recurrence, according to this double-blind randomized controlled trial.
"Six-month Depression Relapse
Rates among Women Treated with Acupuncture," by S.M. Gallagher, et
al. in Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 9(4):216-8, 2001 December.
Compared to sham or "placebo" acupuncture, true acupuncture
showed a significant decrease in the mean resting heart rate and other
measures, suggesting that acupuncture facilitates the regulatory autonomic
nervous system function in patients with minor depression or anxiety disorder.
"Does Acupuncture Influence the
Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System in Patients with Minor Depression or
Anxiety Disorders?" [in German], by M.W. Agelink et al. in Fortschritte
der Neurologie-Psychiatrie. 71(3):141-9, 2003 March.
Acupuncture for anxiety and insomnia: five weeks of acupuncture was associated
with significant improvements in sleep onset, total sleep time, and sleep
efficiency.
"Acupuncture Increases Nocturnal
Melatonin Secretion and Reduces Insomnia and Anxiety: A Preliminary Report,"
by D.W. Spence et al. in Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences.
16(1):19-28, Winter 2004.
Gynecological
This study found a statistical and relevant reduction in PMS symptoms
(anxiety, mastalgia, insomnia, heachache, nausea and gastrointestinal
disorders) among the patients receiving acupuncture, and the authors conclude
that acupuncture should be suggested to patients as a method of treatment
for PMS.
"Using Acupuncture to Treat Premenstrual
Syndrome," by D. Habek et al. in Archives of Gynecology & Obstetrics.
267(1):23-6, November 2002.
Acupuncture increases the success rate of IVF: clinical pregnancies were
documented in 34 of 80 patients (42.5%) in the acupuncture group, whereas
pregnancy rate was only 26.3% (21 out of 80 patients) in the control group.
"Influence of Acupuncture on
the Pregnancy Rate of Patients Who Undergo Assisted Reproductive Therapy,"
by W.E. Paulus et al. in Fertility and Sterility. 77(4):721-4, 2002.
Acupuncture significantly reduces postmenopausal hot flushes and sweating
episodes with effects persisting at least 3 months after the end of treatment.
"Effects of Acupuncture on Climacteric
Vasomotor Symptoms, Quality of Life, and Urinary Excretion of Neuropeptides
among Postmenopausal Women," by Y. Wyon et al. in Menopause: The
Journal of the North American Menopause Society. 2(1):3-12, 1995.
For patients with breast cancer receiving high-dose chemotherapy, adjunct
electroacupuncture was more effective in controlling emesis than minimal
needling or antiemetic pharmacotherapy alone.
"Electroacupuncture for Control
of Myeloablative Chemotherapy-Induced Emesis: A Randomized Controlled
Trial," by J. Shen et al. in JAMA. 284(21):2755-2761, December 6,
2000.
Among primigravidas with breech presentation during the 33rd week of gestation,
moxibustion increased cephalic presentation after the treatment period
and at delivery.
"Moxibustion for Correction of
Breech Presentation: A Randomized Controlled Trial," by F. Cardini
and H. Weixin in JAMA. 280(18):1580-4, November 11, 1998.
By using just one point (PC6), acupuncture is effective in reducing nausea
and vomiting in the first trimester.
"A Randomized Controlled Trial
of Nerve Stimulation for Relief of Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy,"
by T. Rosen et al. in Obstetrics & Gynecology. 102(1):129-35, July
2003.
In this first crossover, placebo-controlled study of acupuncture for severe
vomiting during pregnancy, the addition of active acupuncture to intravenous
fluid therapy improved outcomes faster than placebo acupuncture and intravenous
fluids.
"Manual Acupuncture Reduces Hyperemesis
Gravidarum: A Placebo-Controlled, Randomized, Single-Blind, Crossover
Study," by C.P.O Carlssen in Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.
20(4):273-279, 2000.
Post-stroke recovery
In this randomized controlled study, the post-stroke patients in
the acupuncture group experienced “significantly greater”
lower extremity motor function compared to the control group. They also
experienced lessened extremity joint pain and higher functional independence
scores.
“Effects of acupuncture treatment on
poststroke motor recovery and physical function: a pilot study,”
by Alexander DN, Cen S, Sullivan KJ, et al. in Neurorehabilitation and
Neural Repair 2004;18(4):259-267.
The results reveal that acupuncture alleviates ischemia-induced apoptosis,
suggesting that acupuncture may aid in recovering functioning following
a stroke.
"Acupuncture Suppresses Ischemia-induced
Increase in c-Fos expression and Apoptosis in the Hippocampal CA1 Region
in Gerbils," by M.H. Jang et al. in Neuroscience Letters. 347(1):5-8,
August 14, 2003.
Bed-wetting
Acupuncture for
bed-wetting: Compared to pre-treatment findings there were more dry nights
in 65% of the children. According to the parents, the sleep arousal threshold
had decreased in about 50% of the children.
" Electro-acupuncture in the
Treatment of Children with Monosymptomatic Nocturnal Enuresis," by
G. Björkström, et al. in Scandinavian Journal of Urology and
Nephrology. 34:21-26, 2000.
Treatment in patients with persistent bed-wetting was efficacious both
in terms of the percentage of dry nights at the end of treatment and in
relation to the stability of results, even after the end of the study.
"Acupuncture Therapy in the Management
of Persistent Primary Nocturnal Enuresis: Preliminary Results," by
T.A. Serel, et al. in Scandinavian Journal of Urology and Nephrology.
34:40-43, 2001.
Other conditions
Incontinence among
women: Almost all outcome measurements were significantly improved even
at a follow-up three months after the last treatment.
"Improvement of urge-and mixed-type
incontinence after acupuncture treatment among elderly women – a
pilot study," by Kristina Bergstrom, t al., Journal of the Autonomous
Nervous System 2000 Mar 15;79(2-3):173-80.
Ear acupuncture
was successful in controlling the gag reflex in ten people who had a severe
or very severe gag reflex.
"The role of acupuncture in controlling
the gagging reflex using a review of ten cases," by J. Fiske and
C. Dickinson in British Dental Journal. 190(11):611-613.
Are you wondering if acupuncture can treat a condition not listed here?
Ask the acupuncturist!
Want to learn more about acupuncture?
There are many great books about acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Some
are available in many public library systems. They can also be purchased
or special ordered at the following independent bookstores: Seven Stars
(Cambridge), Harvard Bookstore (Cambridge), and Brookline Booksellers
(Brookline). The New England School of Acupuncture School
Bookstore (Watertown) also has a wide selection of books on acupuncture
and Asian medical and health systems; the NESA bookstore is open to the
public.
Here are just a few recommendations:
The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding
Chinese Medicine
by Ted Kaptchuk
Encyclopedia of Chinese Medicine
by Duo Gao
Survey of Traditional Chinese Medicine
by Claude Larre and Elisabeth Rochat de la Vallée
Wood Becomes Water: Chinese Medicine in
Everyday Life
by Gail Reichstein
The Layman's Guide to Acupuncture
by Yoshio Manaka